Yong Hyein: "Will Remain Lawmaker Even as Minister"... Opposition Criticizes as "Family Income Party, Free Rider"

Ahn Cheolsoo: "Family Income Party"
Nah Kyungwon: "Hyoin Yong is just a decoy"
Yoon Sanghyun and Han Donghoon join the criticism

The opposition is intensifying its backlash after Yong Hyein, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, announced her intention to retain her seat as a proportional representative even after joining the Cabinet. While Yong sought understanding by explaining that if she resigns from the National Assembly, the Basic Income Party would become a non-parliamentary party, the opposition criticized the decision as “a trick and a privilege,” calling for the withdrawal of her nomination.

Antony Ahn, a member of the People Power Party, wrote on social media on the 31st, “Yong Hyein secured her seats both times as a member of the Democratic Party’s satellite party.” He continued, “There is a rumor that the real reason is that the Basic Income Party would no longer be able to receive her spouse’s salary from the National Election Commission if it became a non-parliamentary party. Clarify this first.” He further criticized, “At this point, it is not the Basic Income Party but rather the Family Income Party.”

Yong Hyein, candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is arriving at her office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 31st. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Nah Kyung-won, also a member of the People Power Party, commented, “Yong Hyein is the greatest beneficiary who exploited the distorted semi-proportional representation system, having been elected twice through the Democratic Party’s satellite proportional parties.” She argued, “Refusing to give up her proportional representative seat after being nominated as a minister is merely an extension of this unfair process.” Nah also raised questions about Yong’s eligibility as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, citing her stance on anti-discrimination legislation and same-sex marriage.

Nah further asserted that President Lee Jae-myung’s latest Cabinet nominations were intended to distract public attention from his ongoing trial. She claimed, “Yong Hyein is merely a decoy, while the real target is Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice. By putting the controversial Yong at the forefront to draw criticism, the administration intends to take advantage of the situation to resolve the president’s criminal trial through Kim—an example of the ‘relieve the east, attack the west’ strategy.”

Yoon Sanghyun, another People Power Party lawmaker, argued, “After being elected twice through Democratic Party-aligned satellite parties without running independently, Yong is now attempting to become a minister as well. This is a grave insult to the values of fairness and effort that are important to the youth in their 20s and 30s.” He added, “If a person who is supposed to resolve conflicts is perceived as taking one side, the very justification for the appointment collapses.”

Han Donghoon, an independent lawmaker, also joined the criticism by listing Yong’s stances on issues such as the abolition of supplementary investigation rights, non-consensual sex crimes, and the same-sex marriage system. “The Minister of Gender Equality and Family should represent all citizens, not just a specific camp or ideology,” Han said, adding, “Yong’s appointment will only deepen confusion and conflict.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.